This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/04/world/asia/pakistani-taliban-attack-rival-commander.html
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Pakistani Taliban Attack Rival Commander | Pakistani Taliban Attack Rival Commander |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The Pakistani Taliban on Thursday staged a suicide attack on a rival militant commander in northwestern Pakistan that killed at least 15 people but was reported to have left the commander only lightly wounded, Pakistani officials said. | ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The Pakistani Taliban on Thursday staged a suicide attack on a rival militant commander in northwestern Pakistan that killed at least 15 people but was reported to have left the commander only lightly wounded, Pakistani officials said. |
| Such infighting between militant groups is rare but not unprecedented. Most often, militants who have inched toward reconciliation with the government or form anti-Taliban militias with the Pakistani military’s support are attacked by hard-core elements within the Taliban. | Such infighting between militant groups is rare but not unprecedented. Most often, militants who have inched toward reconciliation with the government or form anti-Taliban militias with the Pakistani military’s support are attacked by hard-core elements within the Taliban. |
| Maulvi Nabi, the focus of Thursday’s suicide bombing, is a militant commander from the Orakzai tribal agency who has been fighting Taliban insurgents. Mr. Nabi survived an earlier assassination attempt by the Taliban in July 2012. He is thought to be close to the Haqqani network and the militant group led by Hafiz Gul Bahadur, seen as sympathetic to the government. | |
| Thursday’s attack occurred around 1 a.m., when a suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden vehicle into a compound in Speen Thal, a semiautonomous tribal region at the border of the Orakzai and Hangu regions. | |
| The explosion destroyed the compound and was followed by a gun battle between at least two attackers and loyalists of Mr. Nabi. | The explosion destroyed the compound and was followed by a gun battle between at least two attackers and loyalists of Mr. Nabi. |
| “He survived the attack with minor injuries,” said a Pakistani security official who spoke on the condition of anonymity. | “He survived the attack with minor injuries,” said a Pakistani security official who spoke on the condition of anonymity. |
| Shahidullah Shahid, a spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban, said that Mr. Nabi was attacked because he supported the Pakistani government and was working against the Pakistani Taliban and their allies. | |
| “We will not spare him,” Mr. Shahid warned. | “We will not spare him,” Mr. Shahid warned. |
| Meanwhile, Pakistani officials and rescue workers continued their efforts to provide aid to the victims of last month’s earthquake in southwestern Pakistan. | Meanwhile, Pakistani officials and rescue workers continued their efforts to provide aid to the victims of last month’s earthquake in southwestern Pakistan. |
| The 7.7 magnitude earthquake on Sept. 25 damaged vast areas of Baluchistan, the impoverished and remote province that has struggled with drought and continues to grapple with an insurgency by Baluch separatists. | The 7.7 magnitude earthquake on Sept. 25 damaged vast areas of Baluchistan, the impoverished and remote province that has struggled with drought and continues to grapple with an insurgency by Baluch separatists. |
| The greatest damage occurred in Awaran, Baluchistan’s poorest district, near the deep-sea port of Gwadar, which Pakistan built with Chinese help over the past decade in the hope of stimulating regional trade. | The greatest damage occurred in Awaran, Baluchistan’s poorest district, near the deep-sea port of Gwadar, which Pakistan built with Chinese help over the past decade in the hope of stimulating regional trade. |
| A spokesman for the National Disaster Management Authority, the country’s official relief agency, said Thursday that the death toll from the earthquake stood at 376, with 824 people injured. | A spokesman for the National Disaster Management Authority, the country’s official relief agency, said Thursday that the death toll from the earthquake stood at 376, with 824 people injured. |
| The remoteness of the region, which lacks basic infrastructure facilities, adds to the difficulties of aid workers to provide quick relief. | The remoteness of the region, which lacks basic infrastructure facilities, adds to the difficulties of aid workers to provide quick relief. |
| Security issues have further aggravated the situation, according to officials. Pakistani troops involved in the aid effort have come under regular attack, reportedly by Baluch separatists, particularly in Awaran. One Pakistani military official said that on Wednesday alone there were five separate attacks on troops, leaving one dead. No attacks were reported on Thursday. | Security issues have further aggravated the situation, according to officials. Pakistani troops involved in the aid effort have come under regular attack, reportedly by Baluch separatists, particularly in Awaran. One Pakistani military official said that on Wednesday alone there were five separate attacks on troops, leaving one dead. No attacks were reported on Thursday. |
Ismail Khan contributed reporting from Peshawar, Pakistan. | Ismail Khan contributed reporting from Peshawar, Pakistan. |
Previous version
1
Next version